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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. J. VIVIER.

STRINGING PIANOS.

No. 325.18 Patented Au 25 885.

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au .lli Q (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 J. VIVIER.

STRINGING PIANOS. No. 325,189. Patented Aug. 25, 1885.

:F1 11E-.IU F1511 lhvrran Starts Baratier @erica JOSEPH VIVIER, OF

BRUSSELS, BELGIUM.

STRINGING PIANOS.

SPECIFICATION forming par-t of Letters Patent No. 325,189, dated August 25, 1885.

Application filed November (i, 1884. (No model.) Patented in Belgium Mav 5, 1884, No. 65,045, and October 30, 1884, No. 66,745

in England October 28, 1884, No. 14,232; in Germany November 3, 1884, N0.`32,087, in France November 4, 1884, No. 165,159 in Austria-Hungary November S, 1884, No 42,047 and No. 9,870, and in Italy December 10, 1884, No. 17,063.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH VIVIER, a subject of the King of Belgium, and a resident of Brussels, Belgium, have invented certain Improvements iu Pianos, (for which I have obtained patents in Belgium, No. 65, 045, dated May, 5, 1884, and No. 66,745, dated October 80,1884, in GreatBi-itain, No. 14,232, dated Oetober 28, 1884, in Germany, No. 32,087, dated November 3, 1884, in France, No. 165,152), dated Novemberv 4, 1884; in Austria-Hungary, No. 42,047 and No. 9,870, dated November 8,1884, and in Italy, No. 17,663, dated December Y10. 1884,) ot' which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to devices for stringing pianos ot' that class in which tension is applied to the strings by the direct action of a screw, instead of the ordinary wrest-pins; and the object of my invention is to construct a cheap and economical form ot' such a stringing device which may be-applied to pianos of ordinary construction.

ln the accompanying` drawings, Figure 1 is a transverse section of my improved construction. Fig. 2 is a partial front elevation. Fig.

3 is a part of the improvement, viewed from above. Fig. 4 is a plan, drawn, to a larger scale, ot' the guide-plate constructed for the mode of fastening` which it is preferred to employ. Figs. 5 and 6 are transverse sections ot the same. Fig. 7 is a plan ot' a guide plate for another mode of fastening. Figs. 8 and 9 are transverse sections of the same.

for the tirst mode of fastening. Figs. 12, 13, and 14 are views and sections of tension screws for the second inode ot' fastening. Figs. 15 and 16 are a section and an elevation ot' the tension-nut, and Fig. 17 illustrates the application of theinvention to the tension ot' oblique cords.

The tension screws V are threaded rods having square prolongations or shanks, as illustrated in Figs. 11, 13, and 14, or enlarged prolongations, as indicated in Figs. 10 and 12, but always of the same narrow form, in order to admit of the wires being brought sufficiently near together.

Figs. 10 and 11 are views and sections of the screws There are two modes oi" attaching the wires. The tirst mode (which is preferable) consists, as shown in Figs. 10 and 1l, in making two holes in the lower ends of the screws and passing the wire through these holes, causing it to take four turns upon the shank, thus rendering it impossible for the wire to slip from the screw when stretched. The second mode consists in providingiu asuitable manner upon the lower extremities of the tension-screws knobs or studs for the reception of eyes or loops formed by bending and twisting the upper ends ofthe wires, as indicated in Figs. 12, 13, and 14.

The tension-nuts Q, which are applied to the screws i'or stretching the wires in the manner indicated in Fig. 15, are ot' a height proportioned to the travel of the screw, and their upper part is fashioned like the head of a wrest-pin, Fig. 16, in order that it may be turned by a suitable key. A. small hole is provided at the upper part for the iree escape of air which would be compressed by the tension, Fig. 15.

rlhe support, which is ofthe same length as the key-board, is composed ot a supportingplate, A, to which is connected parallel thereunto a guide-plate, B, arranged at a distance determined by the height of distance-pieces C, and corresponding with the extent ot' motion allowed for the tcnsionscrews.

The plate A, the plate B, and the distancepieces U (which in the example illustrated consist of dat bars) may be connected together by screws or rivets (1, passing through the plates and the distance-pieces, Fig. l. The distance-pieces G may, however, be rolled in one with the supportiiig-plates, or again may simply consist ot' short tubes distributed at small intervals between the plates.

The supporting-plate A, oi'suitable width, is firmly secured to the frame by strong bolts p, and in such manner that the internal distancepiece bears against the frame at the upper edge ot' a metal plate, D, iirmly secured to the latter by screws or by other suitable means immediately above the sounding-board. The plate l) carries a projecting bridge, S, and is provided with tapped holes for adjusting the counterbridge S. This plate may be dispensed with, the wood ot' the t'ranie in this ease being made of the requisite forni. The supporting-plate is perforated at the part projecting over the bed or frame with tliree pa allel series ot' holes regularly arranged, which receive the threaded portion of the tension-screws V. This arrangement ofthe tension screws in three rows is neeessary,in order that the requisite space for the application of a key to the nuts Q may be provided between the latter, Fig. 3. It is on account of this arrangement that the prolongations of the tension-screws in either mode of fastening have to be inade alternately wide or simply square, in order that the points of connection with the wires may be brought as nearly as possible into one vertical plane, the proloi'iga tions or slianks ot' the tensionscrews being guided in openings corresponding to their sectional form punched out in the giiide-plate l, and facing the holes in the supportingor more guide-pins, F It, Fig. I7, are inserted. In the case ot' the tirst method ot' fastening g plate or wrestplank A.

and Vt'or a note requiring three wires, two wide or tlat shanked tensioii-screws are employed 1 to everysquare-shanked screw. This arrangcment is illustrated in Fig. 4, which shows the three wires i b c attached to their respective i tension-screws inthe same plane, the distance between each two thieewire notes being only equal tothe thickness ot' a shank. Vhen the .second inode ot' iastening is adopted, one square-shanked screw, a, is employed with two wide shanked screws, b and e, alternating with three square-slianked screws, a b c', as shown in Fig. 7, in which the studs for connecting the wires are shown in dotted lilies. This arrangement, although equally good,is less syninietrieal.

The number ot' holes in the support or wrestin the piano in the usual manner by hooking the lower ends ot the wires over a pin tirnily tixed a the wood ot' the piano and drawing it over the bridge crossing the sound-board but at the upper end, before the nut is put over the tension screws to which the upper end ot the wire is attached, and which is introduced into the wrest-plank from belowthat is to say, through the guide-plate-the slack of the wire should be taken up by means ot' pineliers, levers, or other suitable devices, in order that there may be no unnecessary work for the nut to do in ett'ecting the desired tension, which is then exerted throughout the whole length of the wire. When all the mits Q, provided with small washers r, are put on the wrest-plank and present the saine appearance as the heads ot' ordinary wrest-pins, the whole may be covered with a removable shei t-inetal case, Ii, Figs. l and 2, in order to protect the whole Afrom dust and damp. All the metal parts are preferably nickel plated, in order to protect them from rust.

Then the invention is applied to pianos with oblique wires, the same construction is employed, the wires being carried down vertically to a certain suitable point, where one In the case ot' grand pianos, the saine coustruction is employed in a horizontal position, but in such a manner that the wrest-plank shall not impede the movement ot' the nicch aiiisin connected with the keys, and the protecting case Ii is placed in the front ofthe piano.

It will be observed that the abovedescribcd construction may be applied to pianos ot' ordinary construction by dispensing with the wrestpins and substituting therefor the plate A, giiide-plate B, and distancepieces, together with the clinching screws and nuts.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination ot the frame ot' a piano and perforated supporting-plate A with a corresponding guideplate, B, intermediate distance pieces, and tension screws and nuts adapted to said plate A and the guide-plate, substantially as set torth.

2. The combination ol" the t'raine ot' a piano, supporting-plate, and corresponding guideplate, with tension-screws, to which the wires of the piano are connected, the said screws having square slianks and enlarged slianks alternately, substantially as and i'or the purpose set forth.

In testimony nhereot" I have signed my naine to this speciication in the presence ot' two subscribing witnesses.

JOSEPH YIVI'ICR. Witnesses:

AUG. Jouissrnv, rinitis Hnv'is.

IOO 

